In The Round with Ronny Criss, Shawn Bryne & Charlie Argo

Ronny Criss is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter with deep rock and Americana roots. First recognized for his work with indie folk duo Sea Changer and their hits like "Heart is Home” featuring Birdtalker and “See You There” featuring Molly Parden, Criss joined Rainfeather Records in 2021 and released his debut solo album Highways the summer of 2022, recorded at the world-famous Blackbird Studios. The album produced by Bryan Clark, is the “ultimate road record” in both spirit and sound featuring collaborators like Katie Cole of the Smashing Pumpkins and Shawn Byrne. 

In recent years since the release of Highways Ronny has performed across the Midwest and Southeast and Texas in support of the album and in 2024 was selected as a feature songwriter at the 2024 Tin Pan South Songwriter's Festival, Sandy Lee Fest in KY ('24 & '25), and Dripping Springs Songwriter's Fest outside of Austin, TX. 

Ronny returned to the studio in the Summer of 2024 to begin work on “Hurricane Heart” his follow up album to Highways slated for physical release summer 2025. “Julia”, the first single released on April 25 and is the first of many singles to be released from this project. Produced by Shawn Bryne and recorded at Great Hill Studios, this album further showcases Ronny’s Americana and rock sensibilities while also taking things into new territory showing off his tremendous versatility. With a guest appearance by the famed McCrary Sisters, this album proves to be a new leap forward for Ronny with a masterful collection of original songs full of heart and Soul! 

Nashville based artist/producer Shawn Byrne's is truly Nashville's best kept secret. In 2020 Shawn was also awarded grand prize in the American Songwriter Magazine lyric contest with “Love Was Just a Word” a song written for his baby boy Arlo. 

In 2022 Shawn was asked to play lead guitar in the fictional "Roman Family Band" for Fox's prime time drama "Monarch" starring Trace Adkins and Susan Sarandon. 

These days Shawn spends most of his time in his studio noodling away writing songs, producing, mixing and composing music for TV and film for companies like HBO, Showtime, Alloy Tracks and Imagine Entertainment, and his newest musical endeavor is a collection of songs heavily influenced by the music he fell In love with when he was a teenager. Bands like U2, The Cure, Echo and Bunnymen, The Alarm and the Clash. It’s all bubbling back to the surface causing some sort of guitar and synth miasma in Shawn’s studio. A mid life crisis you say? Perhaps. Or maybe Shawn, who doesn’t like to linger too long in one sound is enjoying swimming in the sounds that set him on his musical journey all those years ago with his now battle scarred and weathered Gibson Goldtop Les Paul guitar.

Caught in a battle between the southern blues man in his soul and the country gentleman his momma raised him to be, the two worlds collide on Charlie Argo's sleeve, where the babyfaced crooner wears his heart. Lovers of soulful singers, like Otis Redding, to fans of the bluesy organ-filled vibes reminiscent of John Mayer's 2006 album 'Continuum,' will be captivated by the singer/songwriter's southern soul.  Combining his background in gospel and soul music with inspiration drawn from modern-day artists such as fellow native Alabamian/Americana Roots artist, Jason Isbell, U.K. singer/songwriter James Morrison and earlier southern musicians like rock legend Gregg Allman and 90’s country star Travis Tritt, the Nashville based 28-year-old has managed to blend a plethora of styles that dance on the outskirts of country music into a sound that stands on its own.

‘In the Name of Love’ debuted #1 on the Itunes 'Blues' chart and reached the Top 150 of the Itunes 'All Genres' chart. The E.P.'s first single ‘Tennessee Will’, written by Charlie's friend/hit songwriter, Adam Hood and the legendary Pat McLaughlin, reached #1 on the Itunes 'Blue Singles" chart and is the only song on the E.P. not, at least, co-written by Argo himself.  The song was written by another Alabama Americana/Roots Rock artist and songwriter, Adam Hood (Anderson East, Brent Cobb, Whiskey Myers, Josh Abbott Band, Little Big Town, Randy Rogers) and legendary hit songwriter Pat McLaughlin (John Prine, John Anderson, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Raitt, George Strait, Don Williams, Nathaniel Rateliff) and is the only song on the E.P. not, at least, co-written by Argo himself.